It could hardly be a more uncertain time for the asset management industry, but both fund providers and buyers gathered for InvestmentEurope’s inaugural Pan-European Forum in Lausanne tackled the issues ahead of them with rigorous debate.

Few underestimated the political, economic and financial risks ahead. That awareness is driving close questioning of products and processes. Twelve fund groups presented an array of ideas for consideration by fund selectors from across Europe.

Among the interesting ideas from guest speakers were the likelihood that Europe and the Eurozone “would weather this crisis, but not the next one, in 2017, when decisions about bigger members economies have to be taken”.

Hamish Macrae, author and Chief Economics Commentator at the Independent newspaper (pictured below), also suggested the investment industry needs to take a long, hard look at its business model and how it intends to cope with the challenge in disintermediation of banks and asset managers.

Academic and economist Martin Hueffler (pictured below), who since 2009 has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FondsConsult Research AG, said the only way forward for Europe was closer integration and rapid moves to fiscal union.

Greg Aldridge, fund manager at M&G investments, took the delegates’ award for Best Presenter at the Forum. His audiences commended his lively delivery, with clear and focused themes and balance between investment philosophy and convictions.

Delegates to the Summit (pictured below at the main conference) can obtain further information, including all presentation material, by visiting the event-specific website: www.investmenteurope.net/summit and clicking on ‘Presentations’

InvestmentEurope’s next event is the Fund Selector Forum in Vienna, to be held on 19 October at the Grand Hotel.